Lucky Between the Sheets: An Anthology of Stories that Get to the Point

by L. A. Boruff

  "You have a point. There are another three hundred bodies tonight from two different restaurants." However, unless this solution included a way to rehydrate the dead, I doubted very much what Miss Reeve said. "Explain how these coffins can save London or all of Europe for that matter."

  She laughed then tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. "Of course, you would be skeptical. My money had been on Dr. Sawyer." She winked at Nathan. "I should have prepared better for this, but after tonight, we will have a full team of scientists and engineers by morning. This" —she motioned to the caskets— "this is for us. The first step at combating what can't be seen with the human eye."

  Nervous energy flowed through me. A niggle of worry scratched at the back of my neck. As much as I believed there were things none of us could explain, I also didn’t mess with nature—like Miss Reeve might be inclined to do. Anne motioned for us to follow her through the entryway into a sectioned off annex room. Inside, ten black candles were already burning along with sage and something bitter.

  “What are you doing, Anne?” Nathan whispered.

  “A spell,” she said. “One that will help give us the advantage.”

  “What kind?” I prodded.

  “An awakening spell.” She picked up the black magic occultist book from the center of the circle she stood in. It was then I noticed the pentagram she’d drawn in chalk on the floor along with other symbols I couldn’t comprehend. “Don’t worry, I have already been given permission to do this. Trust me.”

  Trust her? I wanted to. But, lust wasn't to be trusted. "Anne, I—"

  She opened the book and began to chant.

  “Potestate tenebrarum lucem,

  magnam arcesseret metentium,

  vitae vincere bello.”

  I looked at Nathan.

  He stood there, his gaze transfixed on Miss Reeve as she repeated herself three times. The electricity in the building hummed, crackling as though it would burst, electrifying the building. Then, it snapped. The air became oppressive, wet. Every breath I took felt as though it came through a clogged straw. My clothes clung to me. My muscles tensed with expectancy. My vision faded.

  A rough gasp accompanied the crash of heavy lumber in the other room. Fear seized my heart, causing it to gallop wildly in my chest. Adrenaline warred with fright. Every inch of me was ready to bolt until whatever Miss Reeve conjured shattered into a million shards of nothing. Nathan and I doubled over, gasping for breath. A pounding came at the door and a sense of dread washed over me.

  “Miss Reeve,” I murmured. “What have you done?”

  She muttered something in Latin once more then stepped out of the pentagram and crossed to the door. “I summonsed a reaper.”

  The easy way she announced her achievement, shocked me. “You what?”

  She opened the door. “Nathan, Jack, meet Azrael, reaper.”

  The man... Reaper, what have you, stood a good five inches taller than my six-foot. He was cloaked in blackness. He had no eyes that I could see, or a face to stare at. His hands weren’t visible nor were his feet. Yet, waves of impending demise rolled off him along with strength and confidence.

  “Where is his body?” Nathan voiced the question I’d been thinking.

  “Still forming, human.” The disembodied voice sent a shiver down my spine. “It has been two thousand years since I have walked among the human plain. The box was my prison.”

  “He will help guide you to our killer,” Miss Reeve said.

  “And the others...out there?” Nathan pointed to the main room.

  “Tomorrow they shall rise,” Miss Reeve replied. “We have work to do, gentlemen. Murders to solve. Might as well begin tonight.”

  Yes, tonight. “Wait...”

  She turned. “Yes, Jack?”

  “We’re not going to talk about this room or that reaper or how you even knew how to summons him?”

  She gave me a small, sad smile. “Exactly. Later, once we have a handle on things, we can talk. Until then, we’re already in a large enough hole, don’t you agree?”

  I did. “Fine. I have three hundred case files to add to the four hundred others. Nathan?”

  "Yes?" His gaze stayed on the being hovering at the door. "Why don't you get Azrael settled since that's your specialty."

  He swallowed hard then looked at me and blinked. “What? Oh... Right. Right. Help him get settled. Okay.” He stepped forward then stopped. “Because we’re not talking about a reaper being here?”

  “Exactly,” I said.

  “Of course,” he replied as he strode to where the reaper stood. “Why would this be weird or out of the ordinary? What did you do today, daddy? Nothing, pumpkin, I helped summons a reaper. You’ll like him. Just don’t let him have your soul too soon.”

  I chuckled at his mutterings as he led Azrael toward the living quarters Omega Corp had designed for us. “Well, that was interesting.”

  Anne flicked her gaze in my direction. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  2

  Nathan

  By nightfall, less than twenty-four hours since Miss Reeve raised Azrael, we gathered in the main space of our new headquarters. The four caskets—crates—whatever they were, lay on the floor still. Miss Reeve had placed a circle of salt around them for our protection and, she stated, theirs. She’d begin awakening the rest of our team shortly. There was a hint of something in her voice that put me on edge too.

  I couldn’t place it exactly, only, it reminded me of when Elizabeth didn’t tell the full truth after a bad day at school when she was younger.

  The building wasn't quite so empty now either. Considering we'd been here almost a year; the place had been a blank slate for the most part. Now, desks and equipment filled the area, giving it a more lived-in feel. Jack and I were given a stack of files for certain scientists that were nominated for positions within Omega Corp.

  I’d yet to go through them.

  How could I keep them safe, if I didn't know if I was safe? As it was, I sent Elizabeth away to a boarding school to keep her sheltered from this... Whatever we were going to call it. She meant more to me than life itself and I couldn't risk her. Not after everything, we'd both lost. Not after I'd dragged her away from her home, school, and friends. I'd brought her to a foreign country in hopes of making a difference. I'd done nothing yet, except spend less time with my daughter.

  I stared at the black boxes and frowned. Last night, Azrael joined us. He didn’t speak much. I showed him to his quarters. Brought him a few books to catch up on history. Azrael laughed. Though he hadn’t taken a human form in over two thousand years, he’d still been connected to his brethren. I stood there with him for a moment not knowing what to say.

  Azrael dismissed me shortly thereafter.

  Tonight, I'd be doing the same thing with beings I had no idea existed until a few months ago. Correction had I not been present when Miss Reeve conjured up the reaper, I still wouldn't believe it. Now, I couldn't deny it. Monsters were real. The grim reapers were real. Whatever killed those people in the countryside and in those local restaurants, wasn't human.

  I had to stop thinking in absolutes and start thinking outside the box.

  “You’re early,” Jack said.

  I couldn't say what attracted me to him. He was an inch shorter than me. Had shoulder length brown hair that he kept tied back at his nape. He had a perpetual five o'clock shadow that only enhanced his hazel eyes. He had an easy smile and the body of a god. All hard planes and muscular edges.

  According to Elizabeth, I had a dad bod. What Jack saw in me, I had no idea. I didn't have muscles. I didn't have abs. I liked my khaki pants and sweater vests. My daughter's friends called me Mr. Sawyer. When Elizabeth announced she was grossed out by one of her friend's calling me handsome, I hadn't realized anyone paid attention—not that I'd ever acknowledged it. They were teens for goodness sake. "I couldn't sleep."

  “Neither could I. Not after last night.”

  I nodded. “Who do you
think are in the boxes?”

  “I’m not sure I want to know.” Jack placed his hand against the small of my back as he leaned in. The warmth traveled up my spine and pooled in my stomach. “I missed you this morning.”

  I let out a shuddered breath. “Jack, I—”

  “I understand,” he said. “You’re nervous and scared.”

  I gave a huffed chuckle. “I also had a wife. Never saw me in this position.”

  “Never say never.”

  “Are we ready?” Anne joined us along with another man who wore a black cowl.

  “Ready as we’ll ever be,” I replied. “What do we need to do and who is this?”

  “This is Cekar Haggard. I invited him to join our team. We need him,” she said. “He’s a necromancer.”

  I laughed. Didn’t mean to. “Are you serious?” I turned to Jack. “Is she serious?”

  A frown formed between Jack’s brows. “I’ve heard of necromancers, but everything I’ve read about them tends to lean to the fictional side of their existence.”

  “I assure you, I am not a figment of your imagination,” Cekar said. “Anne and I are old friends. When she said she needed help, I obliged.”

  I blew out a breath. “We’re not going to talk about this later, either, are we?”

  Anne laughed. "Oh, Nathan."

  The way she said my name on a soft sigh, turned me inside out. She stirred all kinds of shit within me. Mostly lust and desire. Affection. But, she could also raise a bit of madness as well. Like, I had too simple of thoughts. Or I was somehow beneath her when it came to all of this. “Don’t, Anne. Please don’t treat me as though you have to wear kid gloves around me.”

  She pursed her lips. “As you wish.” Anne straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin a bit, showing off the long, delicate line of her neck. “Then you’re about to get a crash course in all things paranormal.”

  I thought I had been since I arrived? I didn’t say anything.

  “It’s all true, Nathan. I will prove it.” When she didn’t expand on her statement, I didn’t ask questions either.

  Last night opened my eyes to something I couldn't deny anymore. Seeing those bodies first hand, not through photographs, shifted something within my psyche. They were human. They were devoid of all liquid. It should have been impossible. The human body was made up of 70% water to deplete it to the point it was... No, I had to open my mind.

  Anne opened the casket closest to me. Dirt? I glanced up at her. The smell of decay hit me almost immediately. Earthworms wiggled free and my stomach rolled and pitched.

  “Don’t worry.” Anne gave me a small smile. “He’s not dead. He’s been asleep for a little more than two hundred years.” She dug her fingers into the soil along with Cekar and both began to chant.

  “Caducas Ex Animas

  Vita Ethos Anima...”

  Their hands dug into the dirt, churning it with each word. Again, like the night before the air grew oppressive. Thunder rolled. Lightning struck. Where the storm came from, I didn’t know, but it moved in, gathering strength with each recitation of the spell. The cowl covering Cekar’s head fell back exposing his face to us.

  Cekar bald head was covered in small ruins. Some I knew from studying the books Jack gave me to read. Some were Sumerian words I couldn't pronounce. His visage shocked me. He had startling obsidian eyes, pale flesh, and an aquiline nose. Beneath his cloak, I couldn't determine his size or shape. I didn't think I had to, just his voice alone carried the power of at least a hundred men. I wasn't exaggerating that part either. Every time Anne's voice raised, so did Cekar's.

  The floor of the building shook. The windows rattled. My breath left me on a whoosh, seconds before everything quieted, going back to normal—or as close to it after something so dramatic. Anne lifted her hands from the soil then Cekar. Both continued to chant quietly while the dirt trembled.

  Movies and television shows did nothing to prepare me for what happened next. A man—a beautiful man sat up. His long, wavy black hair curled around his square jaw. His paper-thin, translucent skin, covered in dirt, shocked me. My gaze followed the dark blue of a vein in the middle of his chest down into the dirt. I swallowed hard. What the fuck was wrong with me? I didn’t openly ogle men, especially undead men. His grey eyes locked with mine and I took an involuntary step towards him.

  “Nathan?” Jack placed his hand on my arm, stilling me.

  “Yes?” I couldn’t look away from the beautiful man staring straight through me and at me at the same time.

  “Look at me,” Jack demanded.

  I blinked then glanced at the man beside me. A wave of relief washed over me as whatever held me in its grasp let go. “What?”

  Jack smirked. “Vampire.”

  “Huh?”

  Anne cleared her voice. “Vampire. This is Ronan.” She motioned to the man in the box who still peered at me.

  It was then I saw it. Hunger. “Ronan.”

  He gave me a fang-filled smile. “Monsieur.”

  “Vampire,” I murmured.

  “Oui,” Ronan replied. His pupils dilated then shrank. They were turbulent. Starved. Demanding.

  I let out a shuddered breath. “Help him get settled?”

  “Can you control yourself?” Jack teased.

  “Yes,” I snapped. “For fuck sakes... I...”

  Ronan chuckled as he pulled himself from the dirt. His tall, rangy-muscular body emerged from the casket and he was completely naked. His flaccid cock gave a twitch and began to harden. Or perhaps it was my imagination. I licked my lips. Maybe helping him get settled was a bad idea.

  “Allons,” Ronan motioned to me.

  “I’ll have him bathed and dressed in a jiffy,” I said, then cleared my throat. “Will you be waking the others?”

  Jack smirked. “Yes, I suppose we will. Take your time, Nathan.”

  “You’re an asshole,” I whispered, passing Jack.

  “Bet he’ll like yours too.” Jack winked and the sudden rush of arousal coursing through me made me gasp. “Go. Wash the vampire like a good little therapist.”

  I caught up to Ronan who waited a few feet away. I kept my gaze forward. I wouldn’t be fooled again. “You probably don’t understand me, but we’ll figure that out later. We have everything you need. Clothes, history books.” I wasn’t sure about blood. Until yesterday, I figured Miss Reeve, Jack, and I would be working alone on these cases, now it seemed that wasn’t the mission after all. “This is your room.”

  After pushing the door to, I stepped aside, allowing Ronan to enter. If he was glorious from the front, the back was no different. Even though he’d been locked in that box for over two hundred years, the muscles of his shoulders and back stood out in relief against his milky-colored flesh. His ass was spectacular too. High, round and tight. Fuck, I needed to get my shit in check.

  He stood in the middle of the windowless room. The soft light casting shadows over his body as he stared at the mirror in front of him. Well, chalk one myth off as debunked. Vampires did have reflections. Ronan touched his long hair and frowned at his dirt-stained body. Then his gaze met mine and I was enthralled by him. “Aimez-vous ce que vous voyez?”

  The corner of his mouth lifted in a sensual smirk. The hand that had been touching his hair slid across his collarbone then down his chest to his stomach. Though I couldn’t see anything due to his impressive body blocking my view, I understood fully what he was doing when he groaned. I pulled my gaze from his and looked down. Shit. I could feel Ronan’s gaze boring into me while he lazily stroked his dick.

  I licked my bottom lip. "I bet you'd like to get cleaned up." As I did for Azrael the night before, I went into the bathroom and drew Ronan a bath. It gave me a moment to gather my tattered wits and hopefully allow my traitorous cock to deflate.

  I don’t know what the fuck got into me lately. I was internally cussing, something I never did. I stared at men’s asses, obviously, and I allowed Jack to defile me. If someone told me this would
be my life, five years ago, I’d laugh in their face. After placing the stopper in the tub, I added some soap then turned on the water before standing.

  A firm hand held me in place. I tensed as the person knelt behind me. Ronan’s black hair came into view. His breath brushed across my cheek and neck. For some reason, because of the smell wafting from the box when Anne opened it, I thought he’d smell like rot too. Instead, he smelled of churned fresh earth.

  “Veux-tu monter ma bite pendant que je te saigne?” His arm wrapped around my middle. The sudden coldness startled me.

  I swallowed hard, shutting off the water. “Uh...”

  “Avez-vous déjà été enculé par un vampire?”

  I turned my head and our lips were millimeters apart. “I’m sorry my French is subpar.”

  Ronan snarled. The corner of his lip vibrated, exposing the long point of his fang. “I asked” —He leaned in. His lips grazed my cheek— “Do you want to fuck while I feed off of you?”

  His accent was a mix of French and old British English. I stared at him, unsure of what to say as a reply. “I...uh...”

  He groaned. "Mon Coeur." His hand dipped between my legs while the tip of his thumb trailed across my crotch. I sucked in a breath. "Solide." Ronan's lips pressed to my neck.

  I moaned. “We shouldn’t. I’m here to help you get reacquainted with the world.”

  “Oui,” he murmured. “You are.”

  “Ronan, I—”

  "Shh, mon Coeur." He had my shirt off in a flash and hummed in approval, I thought. "Râblé.”

  He ran his palms across my chest, making sure to pay attention to my nipples. They puckered under his cold touch, drawing up into painful points. The bitter touch of his skin against mine should have cooled the arousal pooling low in my gut. Instead, it turned me on. I jerked when he scrapped the tip of my nipple with his fingernail then gave a nervous chuckle. “Okay, Ronan, you’ve had your fun. Don’t let your bath get cold.”